Blog

Sometimes, the answer to a complicated medical challenge isn’t complicated at all. In the case of the Michigan Arthroplasty Registry Collaborative Quality Initiative (MARCQI), an analysis of 30 months of data from Michigan patients having total knee transplants found that aspirin worked as well as anticoagulants to prevent blood clots after the procedure. “There are […]

Although blood transfusions are considered to be insignificant, and done without much forethought, the procedure is not without potential risk. “Blood transfusions are associated with infections, allergic reactions, lung injury, as well as potential for long-term complications, such as heart attack or kidney failure,” said Sarah Lanivich, senior health care analyst, Value Partnerships. “They also […]

The Michigan Oncology Quality Consortium was launched in 2010 with the ambitious goal of improving the quality of cancer care provided to patients across the state of Michigan. As a result, over 90 percent of eligible Michigan oncologists participate to promote high-quality, effective, and cost-efficient care for cancer patients. Late last year, MOQC expanded its […]

Surgeons from California, Washington, South Carolina – even from the United Kingdom – travelled to Northern Michigan in early October to learn about Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s Collaborative Quality Initiative model. Roughly 75 surgeons and health professionals gathered at an inaugural summit to share information and experiences, and inspire similar initiatives in other […]

Since the cardiovascular consortium, the very first collaborative quality initiative, was launched in 1997, with funding from the BCBSM Foundation, Blue Cross has since launched more than 20 consortiums across areas of surgical and medical care, all looking at ways to improve safety, quality and processes for procedures that are high cost and have high […]

Hearing the words “You have to have surgery,” is unsettling and can cause a lot of stress and fear. But Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan knows that improving patients’ pre- and post-surgery experience can have a huge impact on both stress levels and recovery. That’s why the Michigan Surgical Quality Collaborative (MSQC) started the […]

In Hawaii, the legend of Mahie refers to a rainbow that transformed into a young woman who became a caretaker to the gods. Mahie symbolizes the power of community to create beauty and transformation. In Michigan, we’ve used the power of community – and partnership – to create transformation in our health care environment. The […]

Opioid abuse statistics in Michigan are frightening: Deaths resulting from prescription drug abuse statewide is 20 percent higher than the U.S. average. In addition, nearly 40 percent of the opioids prescribed by surgeons are done so without clear guidelines for pain management. To help fight the opioid epidemic in Michigan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of […]

It was early on a fall Friday morning, and as the sun twinkled through the brightly colored trees of the golf resort, the surgeons gathered their bags and went to the meeting room. They were not golfing that day. The bags contained laptops and notepads, not golf clubs. This group of about 30 surgeons were […]

After his doctor said the word “cancer,” Bill Crooks didn’t hear much else as he tried to absorb the devastating news. “Hearing the diagnosis … it feels like life is over,” the Grand Rapids Township man said. Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1993, he opted for surgery to “get it out of my body.” The […]